In early 1990 in the Persian Gulf, while U.S. carriers and B-52s were holding joint exercises.
Two B-52s called the Aircraft carrier (USS Ranger) and asked if they could do a fly-by, and the carrier air controller said yes.
When the B-52s reported they were 9 kilometres out, the carrier controller said he didn’t see them.
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The B-52s told the carrier folks to look down. The paint job on the B-52 made it hard to see from above, but as it got closer, the sailors could make it out, and the water the B-52 jets were causing to spray out.
It’s very, very rare for a USAF aircraft to do a fly-by below the flight deck of a carrier. Here are a stunning photo of the event
The Flyby look from the ship
Flyby look from the Side of the Aircraft carrier
The carrier guys said yes, and a lot more sailors had their cameras out this time.
While B-52 bomber is a high altitude bomber the above image shows how low a B-52 bomber can fly on a maritime attack mission to avoid enemy radar and air defences.
